Strike action at BBC News off

A PLANNED strike today at BBC News, by broadcasting trade union, BECTU, has been called off.

It follows strike action last week, when 90 technicians in the BBC’s News Production Facilities walked out over planned work rota changes. But now, the BBC has offered to sit down with the union to try to resolve the situation.

Strike action intended for tomorrow has also been called off.

Said BECTU official, Luke Crawley: “We welcome the offer of talks. If the BBC is serious we will try to reach agreement on the rota changes. However, if they are not, more strikes will take place.”

Last week’s strike was specifically timed to cause disruption to coverage of the State Opening of Parliament and was in protest at BBC proposals to impose what BECTU says are “drastic changes to rota systems in the News Production Facilities department, which would significantly change shifts and working patterns”.